Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Master Triple Event (1)
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Thankfully, my unused brand-new purity remained intact.
I managed to escape the family head after merely being forced to stamp the disciple contract.
The terror I felt when I first saw the ID floating above my master—no, Chicken Master's—head was still raging fiercely in my chest.
How could an ID be "I wanna fuck!"...?
The pervs lurking in communities are usually just concept weirdos, so I'd decided to believe that was the case.
She'd even helped me out in the gallery with some pretty solid bandit knowledge.
Tsk.
Well, since it had come to this.
I decided to think positively.
No matter that Chicken Master came from the Green Forest bandits, she was still a bona fide Fusion Realm expert.
In a world with some power inflation, Fusion Realm wasn't all that rare.
But if you were listing the top twenty or thirty masters in the martial world, she'd definitely make the cut.
Come to think of it, what rank was she exactly?
I needed to nail that down for sure.
That way, when I bragged later using my master as backing, I'd know exactly what caliber she was.
Like how before a deathmatch or spar, you shout, "I'm Yi Junyoung of the Anyang Yi Family!"
It's basically declaring that if you dare kill me, you'd better be ready for the consequences from my backers of this level!
So.
Murim Wiki is a wikiwiki. You can edit documents yourself, and if you want others' opinions, you can start a discussion.
Tree—no, open Murim Wiki.
Birth: ■■■■ year ■ month ■ day (46 years old)
Realm: Fusion Realm (Early) (Estimated)
As expected of a celebrity, Chicken Master popped up in one search.
…
And a master in her forties…
I swallowed the rude words and scrolled down.
Still, that Rejuvenation of Old Age cheat was the real deal.
To overcome that age gap and look around my age.
Did she get the appearance buff patch too?
I didn't really want to know.
As I scrolled down casually.
"Oh."
She was solidly in the bottom ranks of the twenties masters.
Of course, the martial world was full of hidden experts.
If there were a few more concealing their strength, she'd slide down the list.
But as backing? Hmm, pretty solid.
If you ignored the glaring flaw that she didn't know swordsmanship.
With those thoughts, I skimmed through Chicken Master's public info.
[10. Trivia]
[In her youth, she promised the Bandit Chief (current Supreme Chief) that she'd marry whoever defeated her, but that vow has faded into irrelevance as she's built an undefeated legend to this day, much to the Supreme Chief's growing sighs. Even she seems to be developing spinster hysterics...]
Whoa.
They put that on a public page she could see?
Curiosity piqued, I checked the page history.
I shouldn't have.
[r165 (-30) IWANTGYOMI (False information posted)]
[r163 (-30) IWANTGYOMI (False information posted)]
[r161 (-30) IWANTGYOMI (False information posted)]
A karma war was raging.
I couldn't bear to look further and closed the page.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
To think this was a perk of possession...
* * *
I wanted to flop into bed and crash right then, but unfortunately, today was lecture day again.
Dragging my unwilling feet across the academy grounds, I arrived at the Sword Forest Hall.
For Basic Swordsmanship class.
Watching those classmates tussle with the bandits earlier made me realize my fundamentals were below average.
If I'd been a bit more skilled in combat, I could've synced better with Luri and handled it without hiring Dalam as a merc.
Though for a First-Rate who couldn't even manifest sword aura, that was a tall order.
Anyway.
The Sword Forest Hall was a mess.
"Shouldn't we have covered the basics as kids? I can't fathom the academy's intentions."
"Oh, come on, young master. Don't say that. This frail girl has never properly swung a sword~."
"Did you hear? The Mind-Image Sword Debate tournament's coming up soon."
"Wish we'd practice that instead... Or just meditate. What a waste of time."
Some were skipping study for flirting.
Others griped about being forced into basic class.
Truth be told, at twenty and First-Rate, these were kids hailed as prodigies back home.
Line 'em up by grades and force basic major classes on them—naturally, complaints flew.
But still.
This was chaos.
A bit irritated, I exchanged light nods with familiar faces from the dorms and waited for class to start.
Soon.
"Greetings. I'm Moyong Seol, and I'll be handling Basic Swordsmanship this semester."
The instructor.
Moyong Taek's sister, Ice Princess, graced us.
Polite applause echoed sparsely.
Moyong Seol slowly scanned the students from the center of the training ground.
Maybe prejudice, but her gaze was like a hawk eyeing prey.
Then.
"As the course name suggests, we'll cover understanding swordsmanship itself, not specific styles. Even profound techniques are just motion chains without sword comprehension."
Murmurs rose.
Probably disliked her words.
Common wisdom: mastering advanced arts makes you a supreme master.
"Of course, we won't grasp everything in one semester. Even the principles—swiftness, variability, illusion, heaviness, softness, strength, dullness—are incredibly diverse. Someday, you might reach Sword Unity."
Moyong Seol drew her sword, tossed it into the air, and closed her eyes gently.
And.
Ching!
The hilt naturally wrapped into her right hand like it was sucked in. "Oohs" erupted here and there.
Quite the show.
Opening her eyes with a smile.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so we'll start with the absolute basics: breathing, stance, and balance."
She added an ominous note.
As the mood settled.
"Excuse me, Lady Moyong?"
From mid-students.
A guy shot up.
Moyong Seol frowned.
"It's Instructor, not Lady. Nangong Sang, student?"
Ignoring the correction.
Nangong Sang started yapping.
"I've trained in Nangong swordsmanship since childhood. Sure, a minor slip in the entrance exam tanked my score, but honestly, I didn't come to Hundred Flowers Academy for basics. How about something more practical?"
...Even if Moyong Family lags behind Nangong.
And she's collateral branch, not direct.
Saying that to her face?
Learned manners from YouTube?
Moyong Seol seemed to think the same; a vein pulsed on her forehead.
But she quickly composed herself.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Like she'd heard it a hundred times, maintaining calm.
"Nangong student, come forward?"
She called him out.
Nangong Sang smirked like he expected it and sauntered up cockily.
Instantly, a standoff formed in the hall's center.
"No need for words between warriors. Simple spar? I won't use internal energy, but feel free, Nangong student."
"What?"
Now Nangong Sang was pissed.
Even if Moyong Seol was Peak Realm, could she subdue a First-Rate without qi?
Other students thought the same; murmurs grew.
Ignoring the vibe.
Visibly angered, Nangong Sang snorted and drew his sword.
"Don't regret it!"
He charged with a big swing. Well-fed on elixirs, sword aura visibly rippled—
Chaeng!
"Warriors need a Clear Mirror Still Water mind. Excitement tenses the body, disrupts balance."
Moyong Seol calmly struck his blade precisely.
No qi in her sword, yet Nangong retreated a step.
"Tch!"
Regaining poise, he charged again.
"Sometimes softness beats strength—that's the wonder of yielding sword."
Using the flat, she deflected smoothly, stepped forward, and whipped her slender leg into his shin.
"Kuh!"
Despite size difference, his stance crumbled; glaring sharply.
"A disrupted stance exposes weaknesses defenselessly. Like this."
Her elbow slammed his solar plexus.
"Guhak—"
"Breathing disrupted? You're dead from there."
His sword slipped powerlessly from limp arms.
Heavy silence blanketed the hall.
Looking at writhing Nangong on the floor.
Moyong Seol sheathed her sword with a smile.
"Everyone gets how vital basics are now? Anyone else with grievances, step up anytime."
After that blatant discipline.
Who'd volunteer?
Moyong Seol.
Scary woman…
"Yes, you there. Eo Yunche student? Loosen your lower body more, extend arms straighter. Yes. Good."
"You, Namgansu student? Stance disrupted. Remember: lower body is martial arts' core."
"Seong Hungi student. Don't swing wildly with arm strength. Move whole body's muscles smoothly."
Class proceeded without rebellion.
Weak lower bodies started with horse stance.
Those with basics, sword forms.
Even form students initially resisted.
But under her guidance, realizing smoother swings than before, focus sharpened.
No wonder she was instructor.
Moyong Seol had real teaching talent.
"Geum Sihyeon student? Twist waist more there. Like this."
"Ah, yes."
...Weird.
Others got verbal pointers or wooden sword corrections.
But for me, she touched directly?
Probably imagination.
My form was that sloppy.
It did improve, after all.
* * *
After class.
Watching students leave in groups, wrestling doubt—this right? Kinda yes, kinda no—finally decided to stay and wait for Moyong Seol.
"Hm?"
Maybe high from thrashing Nangong.
Whistling out, she spotted me, flinched, smirked crookedly, then back to neutral.
"Something, Geum Sihyeon student?"
Got to the point.
"Wanted to ask if you know Flying Heaven Sword Art."
"Flying Heaven Sword Art...?"
Her eyes said, how'd you know?
No point hiding now.
She already knew I'd memorized Blazing Shadow Heart Formula whole.
Bluntly revealed it.
Her eyes widened like she'd yell "Bullshit!"
But reciting formulas fluently like before made those big eyes bulge completely.
...Compared to Chicken Master, she looks fairy-like.
Twenties, after all.
Sorry for the chicken coop slander.
"Hm... Flying Heaven is indeed an advanced sword art. Tough without basics."
Moyong Seol pondered.
Then clapped awkwardly!
"Geum Sihyeon student's basics are lacking anyway! No choice. I'm! A bit! Busy! But specially, I'll give separate Flying Heaven guidance!"
"Haha... Thanks..."
Eyes gleaming impurely.
But extra lessons? Can't refuse.
If Chicken Master used swords, I'd learn from her.
- Sword? Axes are best. Why need that? Bows are okay.
Just a natural bandit.
Had to find separate sword master.
Not a lumberjack, muscle stuff.
Pro gamer IYena, my old idol, would've freaked.
But.
Schedule's packed now.
Regular classes.
Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art lectures.
Bandit work... no, external arts tutoring, plus sword tutoring.
Drop Basic Archery via credit change later.
Chicken Master'll teach.
"Please take care of me."
"Hehehe. Likewise, Geum Sihyeon student."
Averted her burdensome gaze gripping my hand tightly, unnaturally, and left Sword Forest Hall.
This.
Right?
Gotta be.
* * *
Back at dorm.
"Kyaaauuu!"
Bored stuck in room.
Wolfie aggressively pounced, slathering my face in saliva instantly.
Shoved it back playfully, asked animal-loving dorm supervisor (name escapes), registered pet smoothly.
Name: Wolfie.
But.
Silver Fang sounds like top hacker.
"Wolfie. You like Wolfie too, right?"
Wolfie turned away huffily.
Wanted to toss in pot and slather miso, but.
More pressing matters.
"Heh heh."
The new Mind-Image Sword Debate gear I'd requested from Dad arrived by parcel.
Past life, tried preordering on 10 sites for Nin■do, all failed, cried buying resale at markup—painful memory.
Now different.
This is chaebol life!
Even sent 5 huge ones.
Happily pondered reselling in academy while unboxing.
Gonna be Mind-Image Sword master!